Helmet Mount with Integral Binocular Bridge

ABSTRACT

A helmet mount for attaching a viewing device to a helmet includes a helmet interface assembly removably attachable to the helmet. A pivot arm is attached to the helmet interface assembly and is pivotal about a horizontal, transverse axis. A carriage member is carried on the pivot arm and slidable between the distal end and the proximal end of the pivot arm. The carriage member includes a bridge member integral therewith, the bridge member including a first fastener configured to removably attach a first viewing device and a second fastener configured to attach a second viewing device.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.13/930,534 filed Jun. 28, 2013, now allowed. The aforementionedapplication is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to an improved helmet mounting system formounting a viewing device to headgear such as a tactical or militaryfield helmet, and specifically, a mount with an integral binocularbridge attachment for same, which replaces the conventional dovetailshoe interface commonly found on existing helmet mounting systems. Theintegral bridge unit herein provides multiple options for monocular orbinocular viewing devices and multiple flip options for moving anattached viewing device between a viewing position when the device is inuse and a flipped or stowed position out of the user's line of sightwhen the viewing device is not in use. The integral bridge unit may beadapted to removably attach one or two viewing devices. The attacheddevices may be the same or different type of device and/or of the sameviewing/imaging modality. The integral bridge herein may be adapted foruse with any type of optical, opto-electronic, or electronic viewingdevice, including without limitation, night vision devices that enableviewing under nighttime or other low light conditions, such as a passivenight vision goggle (NVG) device or enhanced night vision goggle (ENVG)device, thermal imaging device, short wave infra-red (SWIR) device,camera, head mounted display screen, and so forth. In a further aspect,the bridge system herein may include a plurality of side attachmentmembers, each of which are adapted for a particular viewing device andwhich are removably and interchangeable attachable to the integralbridge member.

SUMMARY

A helmet mount for attaching a viewing device to a helmet includes ahelmet interface assembly removably attachable to the helmet. A pivotarm is attached to the helmet interface assembly and is pivotal about ahorizontal, transverse axis. A carriage member is carried on the pivotarm and slidable between the distal end and the proximal end of thepivot arm. The carriage member includes a bridge member integraltherewith, the bridge member including a first fastener configured toremovably attach a first viewing device and a second fastener configuredto attach a second viewing device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may take form in various components and arrangements ofcomponents, and in various steps and arrangements of steps. The drawingsare only for purposes of illustrating preferred embodiments and are notto be construed as limiting the invention.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a helmet mount with integral binocularbridge according to a first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the helmet mount appearing in FIG. 1, with thecarriage arm in the deployed position.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the helmet mount appearing in FIG. 1, with thecarriage arm moved to the stowed position.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the integral sliding carriage/binocularbridge member.

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the helmet mount appearing in FIG. 1 withleft and right viewing devices attached and in the deployed position.

FIG. 6 is a partially exploded view of the helmet mounting systemappearing in FIG. 1 with the left and right viewing devices detached.

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of the helmet mount appearing in FIG. 1 withleft and right viewing devices attached and in a first stowed position.

FIG. 8 is an isometric view of the helmet mount appearing in FIG. 1 withleft and right viewing devices attached and in a second stowed position.

FIG. 9 is an isometric view of the helmet mount appearing in FIG. 1 witha pair of OASYS Technology SkeetIR thermal imaging monoculars attached.

FIG. 10 is an isometric view of the helmet mount appearing in FIG. 1with a pair of MUM-14B passive night vision monoculars.

FIG. 11 is an isometric view of a helmet mount with integral binocularbridge according to a second exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a partially exploded view taken generally from the bottom ofthe helmet mount appearing in FIG. 11 and a right side mounting member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer tolike or analogous components throughout the several views, FIGS. 1-8depict an exemplary helmet mount 100 having an integral binocular bridge110. The helmet mount 100 is attached to a helmet 112 to positionoptical devices 230, which may be MINI N/SEAS night vision monoculars inFIGS. 4-7 before the left and right eyes of a user. It will berecognized that the present binocular bridge may be used with all mannerof viewing devices, wherein the left and right devices may be the sameor different. The helmet mounting system 100 may include as helmetinterface assembly 116 for attachment to a mounting bracket 114 or otherhelmet interface, a vertical adjustment mechanism, tilt axis adjustmentmechanism, and breakaway/nonbreakaway features, and so forth, asdescribed in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 7,219,370 or U.S. PatentApplication Publication No. 2013/0083391, each of which is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety. The sliding carriage with integralbinocular bridge is shown and described herein with a preferred pivotinghelmet mount 100. It will be recognized that the present development canbe adapted for use with other helmet mounts including without limitationalternative helmet mounts available from Wilcox Industries Corp. ofNewington, N.H.

The helmet mount 100 attached to a bracket 114 attached to the frontportion of the helmet 112. A first pivoting segment 116 is removablyattached to the bracket 114 and may include a vertical adjustmentmechanism 115 for positioning the devices 230 at a desired height, abreakaway mechanism 113 e.g., in which the segment 116 (or a portionthereof) will release upon application of a predetermined force, a tiltadjustment mechanism 119 for adjusting the angle of the optical axis ofthe viewing devices 230, and so forth.

In the illustrated embodiment, the helmet mount 100 includes an upperlocking tab 111 and a lower locking tab 121, which engage complimentarygrooves (not shown) on the bracket 114. The helmet mount 100 may alsoinclude a breakaway selector 113 which can be moved between breakawayand nonbreakaway positions. A slider bar 156 is mechanically linked tothe lower tab 121 and slidable to allow the user to selectively attachand remove the helmet mount 100 to and from the bracket 114. When theselector 113 is moved to the breakaway position, the lower tab 121 ismovable (e.g., against a biasing spring) wherein the beveled edgeenables the lower tab to move upward and disengage from the groove uponthe application of a sufficient force. When the selector 113 is in thenonbreakaway position, the tab 121 is rigidly retained within thecorresponding groove. The breakaway setting is advantageous in that itmay prevent injury to the wearer, e.g., in the event of entanglement orimpact of the optical device.

A second pivoting segment 118 is pivotally attached to the firstpivoting segment 116 about a pivot axis or cylinder 117. The secondsegment 118 extends horizontally when in the deployed position (see,e.g., FIGS. 1 and 2). The second segment 118 includes carriage rails 127and 129 and a sliding carriage member 120 with integral binocular bridge110. The sliding carriage member 120 is slidable on the rails 127, 129which provides a fore-and-aft adjustment mechanism for positioning thedevices 230 at a desired distance or focal position in front of theuser's eyes. Pivoting movement of the second segment 118 relative to thefirst segment 116 allows a wearer to selectively move the viewingdevices between the deployed position as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, to afirst stowed position wherein the viewing devices are pivoted up and outof the user's line of sight, as shown in FIG. 7. In preferredembodiments, further pivoting movement on the vision device interface asdescribed below allows the vision devices 230 to be pivoted to a secondstowed position, as shown in FIG. 8, wherein the devices 230 are movedback and over the helmet, thereby reducing torque and strain on theuser's neck.

As best seen in FIG. 4, the bridge unit 110 comprises a slide portion123 which slidably engages the rail members 127, 129. A center section124 attached to or integral with the slide 123 includes a left and rightgrooves or channels 125 which are shaped or keyed to provide a stablecontacting surface for providing stability and preventing wobbling of anattached viewing device 230. The center section 124 includes an opening135 on each side for receiving a threaded fastener 154 for securing theviewing devices 230.

The pivoting assembly 118 includes the first and second parallel arms127, 129. The first arm 127 is received within a channel 131 formed inthe slide portion 123. The second arm 129 is received within channel 133in the slide 123 and includes a gear rack portion 137 having a pluralityof spaced apart teeth 147 on an inward facing edge thereof.

A slide lock member 149 includes an actuator portion 151 disposed so asto be manually actuatable by the user and locking teeth 153 engaging thegear rack 137. One or more captured springs 155 bear against theactuator portion 151, urging the locking teeth 153 into engagement withthe gear rack 137 to secure the bridge unit 110 at a desired position onthe rail 118. The springs 155 may be coil springs or other type ofspring or resilient member.

In operation, to adjust the fore and aft position of the bridge member110, the actuator portion 151 is manually depressed by the user, againstthe bias of the springs 155, to move the locking teeth 153 out ofengagement with the gear rack 137 to allow the slide 123 to be moved toa desired position along the rail 118. A cover plate 157 is secured tothe slide portion 123 via fasteners 159, such as threaded fasteners.

Left and right side sections 126 are removably attachable to the centersection 124 on opposite transverse sides and are generally arranged asmirror images of each other. The left and right side sections 126 arealso removably attachable to the viewing devices 230 to provide aninterface between the viewing device and the bridge member 110. Thesections 126 are secured to the center section via the threaded member154 which rotatably engages the corresponding left or right opening 135in the center section 124. The threaded member 154 includes an enlargeddiameter wheel 150 which is received within an opening 152 in the sidesection 126 to allow the user to manually rotate the threaded member154. Rotating the wheel 150 allows the side section 126 to selectivelybe removed from and secured to the center section 124 via fastener 135.

Each side section 126 includes a hinged mounting arm 138 hingedlyattached to a viewing device mount 220 about a pivot or hinge 134. Themounts 220 are configured to removably attach to a mounting shoe on theviewing device, such as a dovetail mounting shoe as are known in theart.

Referring now to FIGS. 11 and 12, there appears an alternativeembodiment helmet mounting system 100 a operable to provide electricalpower from an external power supply 161 to an electrically operatedviewing device (e.g., 230) to provide greater operation time and readyreplacement of the power supply. The system 100 a includes an electricalconnector 310 which may removably connect with a mating connector (notshown) electrically coupled to the power supply 161. For example, theconnector 310 may connect to a mating connector on the helmet 112, whichmay be coupled to a remote power supply, such as a power supply attachedto another location on the helmet 112 or otherwise worn or carried bythe user.

The connector 310 is attached to a cable 311 with electrical conductors,which are electrically coupled to electrical contacts 312 in a binocularbridge member 110 a integral with a sliding carriage 120 a. The contacts312 engage contacts 314 in an attached side member 126 a. The contacts314 may be spring biased to bear against the contacts 312. The contacts314, in turn, are electrically coupled to electrical contacts 316 in thedevice mount portion 220 a of the side member 126 a. The contacts 316engage aligned electrical contacts (not shown) on the viewing devicemounting shoe to power the viewing device.

Referring again to FIGS. 1-8, in the illustrated embodiment, the sidesections 126 may be as shown and described in the above-incorporatedU.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013/0083391 and may have thelateral adjustment and pivoting features as described therein. In2013/0083391, lateral spacing, e.g., for pupillary alignment isaccomplished by rotation, and is advantageous for optical viewingdevices or night vision devices employing photomultiplier tubes.

Referring to FIG. 9, in alternative embodiments, the side sections (see,e.g., side sections 126 b in FIG. 9) may be as described in commonlyowned U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/819,199 filed May 3,2013, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.The bridge side attachment sections in the aforementioned applicationNo. 61/819,199 includes linear pupillary/transverse adjustment (see,e.g., side sections 163 in FIG. 9) and are therefore particularlyadvantageous for use in connection with viewing devices such as athermal imaging device 240 or other viewing device employing a displayscreen.

Referring again to FIGS. 1-8, outward pivoting of each of the left andright side sections 126 about the pivot hinge 134 allows each of theattached viewing devices 230 to be moved to a non-viewing position whennot in use (see FIG. 8). One or both of the devices 230 can be pivotedindependently of the other. This allows the user to move one or both ofthe viewing devices 230 up and out of the user's line of sight withoutthe need to pivot the second segment 118 of the helmet mount 100 to thestowed position. If the user intends to stow the viewing devices for alonger period, the second segment 118 can be additionally pivoted to thestowed position to move the device further back toward the user's centerof mass in order to reduce neck strain and fatigue, as shown in FIG. 8.

Unlike some of the prior art helmet mounts, which are adapted for usewith a particular model viewing device, the present development providesa universal bridge as an integral component, which allows the helmetmount 100 to function as a universal helmet mount, which can be adaptedfor binocular viewing with all manner of monocular viewing devices. Incertain embodiments, the present development is directed to a modularsystem, wherein a plurality of side sections may be interchanged toprovide a desired binocular system.

For example, FIGS. 6-8 illustrate a binocular system employing two MININ/SEAS night vision monoculars. Systems employing other passive orenhanced night vision devices are also contemplated.

FIG. 9 shows an alternative system wherein device interface members 126b are adapted for use with thermal camera systems 240, such as the OASYSTechnology SkeetIR thermal imaging monoculars. The interface members 126b may be as described in the above-incorporated Application No.61/819,199.

FIG. 10 shows yet another alternative embodiment wherein deviceinterface members 126 c are adapted for use with MUM 14-B night visionmonoculars 250. Other viewing systems include the AN/PVS-14 night visionsystem, visible wavelength imaging systems, and others.

Although the illustrated embodiments illustrate binocular systemswherein the same type of viewing device is provided for each eye, itwill be recognized that the left and right side viewing devices may beattached independently such that each eye may view devices of differenttypes and/or imaging modalities.

The invention has been described with reference to the preferredembodiments. Modifications and alterations will occur to others upon areading and understanding of the preceding detailed description. It isintended that the invention be construed as including all suchmodifications and alterations.

What is claimed is:
 1. A helmet mount for attaching a viewing device toa helmet, the mount comprising: a helmet interface assembly removablyattachable to the helmet; a pivot arm attached to the helmet interfaceassembly and pivotal about a horizontal, transverse axis, the pivot armhaving a proximal end and a distal end; a carriage member carried on thepivot arm and slidable along the pivot arm between the distal end andthe proximal end of the pivot arm, the carriage member having an upperextent lying in an upper plane extending parallel to said pivot arm; andthe carriage member including a bridge member integral therewith, thebridge member disposed beneath the upper plane, the bridge memberincluding first and second opposed sides, the first and second opposedsides being on opposite transverse sides of the pivot arm, the firstopposed side including a first fastener element configured to removablyattach a first viewing device and the second opposed side including asecond fastener element configured to removably attach a second viewingdevice.
 2. The helmet mount of claim 1, further comprising: a firstdevice interface member removably attachable to the first fastenerelement; and a second device interface member removably attachable tothe second fastener element.
 3. The helmet mount of claim 2, furthercomprising: the first device interface member including a first mountingshoe receptacle configured to removably attach to a mounting shoe of afirst viewing device; and the second device interface member including asecond mounting shoe receptacle configured to removably attach to amounting shoe of a second viewing device.
 4. The helmet mount of claim3, further comprising: the first device interface member including afirst hinge that allows rotation of a first attached viewing devicebetween a viewing position before a first eye of a user and a firstnon-viewing position out of a line of sight of the user; and the seconddevice interface member including a second hinge that allows rotation ofa second attached viewing device between a second viewing positionbefore a second eye of a user and a second non-viewing position out ofthe line of sight of the user.
 5. The helmet mount of claim 4, whereinthe first hinge is pivotal about a first pivot axis that is parallel toan optical axis of the first attached viewing device and the secondhinge is pivotal about a second pivot axis that is parallel to anoptical axis of the second attached viewing device.
 6. The helmet mountof claim 3, further comprising: an electrical circuit for electricallycoupling a power supply to one or both of a first attached viewingdevice and a second attached viewing device.
 7. The helmet mount ofclaim 6, wherein the electrical circuit includes: an electricalconnector; a first set of electrical contacts on the first opposed sideof said bridge member and electrically coupled to the electricalconnector; and a second set of electrical contacts on the second opposedside of said bridge member and electrically coupled to the electricalconnector.
 8. The helmet mount of claim 7, wherein the electricalcircuit further includes: a third set of electrical contacts on thefirst device interface member which contacts the first set of contactson the first opposed side of the bridge member; and a fourth set ofelectrical contacts on the second device interface member which contactsthe second set of contacts on the second opposed side of the bridgemember.
 9. The helmet mount of claim 5, wherein the first shoereceptacle is linearly movable with respect to the first deviceinterface member along a horizontal axis orthogonal to the optical axisof the first attached viewing device and the second mounting shoereceptacle is linearly movable with respect to the second deviceinterface member along a horizontal axis orthogonal to the optical axisof the second attached viewing device when the first and second deviceinterface members are in a deployed position.
 10. The helmet mount ofclaim 1, wherein the helmet interface assembly includes one or both of:a vertical adjustment assembly for positioning an attached viewingdevice at a desired vertical position; and a tilt adjustment assemblyfor adjusting a viewing angle of an attached viewing device.
 11. Thehelmet mount of claim 1, wherein the pivot arm pivots between a lowerposition and an upper position for use and stowage, respectively, of aviewing device attached to the bridge member.
 12. The helmet mount ofclaim 1, wherein the carriage member is slidable along the pivot arm toa desired position between the proximal end and the distal end of thepivot arm.
 13. The helmet mount of claim 1, wherein the helmet interfaceassembly includes a breakaway connector which causes at least a portionof the helmet mount to detach from the helmet upon the application of apredetermined force.
 14. The helmet mount of claim 1, furthercomprising: a gear rack on said pivot arm; a slide lock carried on saidcarriage member, the slide lock having locking teeth which intermeshwith the gear rack to secure the carriage member at a desired positionon the pivot arm, the slide lock being manually actuatable toselectively move the locking teeth out of engagement to providefore-and-aft adjustment of the carriage member.
 15. The helmet mount ofclaim 1, further comprising a captured spring within said carriagemember urging the locking teeth into engagement with the gear rack. 16.The helmet mount of claim 1, further comprising a viewing device. 17.The helmet mount of claim 16, wherein the viewing device comprises apair of monocular viewing devices.
 18. The helmet mount of claim 1,wherein the carriage member is adapted for mounting one or more viewingdevices selected from the group consisting of an optical device,opto-electronic device, sighting device, targeting device, passive nightvision device, enhanced night vision device, thermal imaging device,infrared imaging device, short-wave infrared imaging device, helmetmounted display screen, and combinations thereof.
 19. The helmet mountof claim 1, wherein the bridge member has a contacting surface which iskeyed to mate with an aligned facing surface of an attached viewingdevice interface member.
 20. The helmet mount of claim 1, furthercomprising: a plurality of device interface members including deviceinterface members configured to attach to different types viewingdevices, wherein each of the plurality of device interface members isinterchangeably attachable to the bridge member.